9 Signs you might be allergic to pasteurized milk

You might be one of the rare people who suffers from a milk allergy. It’s easy to find out if that warm glass of milk you want to drink is dangerous for you – and almost as easy to find ways around the issue of a milk-deprived diet, according to a PaleoHacks article.

Milk allergies and lactose intolerance are not the same thing. Lactose intolerance is a digestive problem. It means you don’t have the enzyme that normally turns the milk sugar called lactose into a usable form.

If you’re lactose-intolerant and persist in gulping down milk, you’ll get acne, constipation, diarrhea, and nausea for your troubles. But it is mostly a matter of inconvenience instead of a life-threatening situation.

In comparison, a milk allergy means your body reacts harshly to milk proteins like caseinate and whey. Your immune system attacks any such proteins it comes across with such ferocity that it triggers serious symptoms in the rest of your body.

People with milk allergies who consume dairy products will suffer both immediate and non-immediate symptoms. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, the early signs of a milk allergy attack are as follows:

Your skin breaks out into hives or rash

Vomiting

Wheezing and coughing

A few hours after the initial symptoms, your body will start undergoing harsher reactions. These non-immediate signs include:

If you suffer from these symptoms whenever you eat anything with the least hint of dairy, you’re definitely allergic to milk. That means you’ll need to adopt a milk-free diet.

Check the labels, don’t trust “dairy-free” or “non-lactose”

Pick up the habit of checking the product labels. Do not be fooled by “dairy-free.” The term is not officially approved or regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Many manufacturers remove lactose from “dairy-free” products but retain the milk proteins that can trigger milk allergies. These products are for lactose-intolerant people, not allergic people.

Don’t trust “non-lactose,” either. Those products often undergo heavy processing. They may also be full of antibiotics and hormones.

Instead, inspect the ingredient statement at the bottom of the label. If it says the product has milk, it will trigger your allergies. Also avoid any product that has milk proteins like casein, casein hydrolysate, lactalbumin, lactalbumin phosphate, lactoferrin, lactose, lactulose, and whey.